As she prepares to begin her senior year and her third year as a staff member, Vanessa reflects on how far she has come during her high school years and where she is hoping to go next. This year, Vanessa wants to challenge herself.
“I just want to be locked in and improve my writing more and come up with more interesting stories,” she said.
Vanessa is one of the many newspaper members who has a second role outside of just being a writer. At the beginning of last year, she took on the role of website designer. While it wasn’t originally something she thought she would do, she has embraced the challenge and enjoys trying to improve at it and learning new things.
For Vanessa, newspaper isn’t just another class. It is a place where she can connect her passions and her future interests. Coming from an immigrant family, she cares deeply about immigration issues in the US, hoping to use her voice to amplify those who may not always be heard.
“Both of my parents are immigrants. I want to advocate for them,” she said, “That’s part of the reason I like writing, too.”
That motivation is one reason she hopes to pursue a career in law or Criminal psychology, ideally transferring to Chicago after beginning her College Journey at the University of Iowa.
To Vanessa, pursuing a career in law is a way of carrying her family’s story forward and of fighting for people who, like her parents, may not always have a platform.
“I feel like I get to be somebody’s voice who never had the chance to speak up.” She said,
Like many others, Vanessa credits her freshman year as a turning point in her life.
“I went through a lot, and after that year was over, it really hit me… I realized I needed to change my thought process and the things I was doing to set myself up for success.” She said.
Another life-changing moment came more recently: her month-long trip to China. Experiencing another culture firsthand reminded her of how big the world is and how fast time passes. “It made me want to be able to do something like that on my own and to be successful.”
Outside of school, Vanessa enjoys shopping downtown, reading, or grabbing a fun drink. Though she describes herself as quiet and independent, she’s also optimistic.
“I can be hopeful, and, like, hope things will get better and also know that they will get better, but it takes time,” she reflected.
When asked what sets her apart from the average student, Vanessa points to her resilience. She is proud of the challenges she has overcome and the growth that she has shown. “I’m proud of how I have grown as a person, ” she said. For support, she looks to her family, her mom, whom she calls the sweetest person I know, and her brother, who pushes her to always do better
If Vanessa were a piece of candy, she says she would be a Twizzler, tough to break, sometimes misunderstood, but unique and full of variety as she goes into her final year of high school. She is excited for what is to come and ready to face the future. We are so happy to have her back in newspaper for the third year!
